Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I believe that people and families who have notices to quit hanging over them should be included in the homelessness figures. In this apartment block, we have young families with children who go to school in the vicinity. One family I spoke to pays €700 per month in rent. They have gone out to look for alternative accommodation. The prices being asked are from €1,000 up to €1,300. There are queues going out the door at those properties.

6 o’clock

Homelessness is a real threat for these families. We are looking at mass evictions. The reason for this is profiteering. It is outrageous. People should organise and fight against what is happening. The Minister must close this loophole. People with notices to quit hanging over them should be counted in the figures. We will support this proposal.

The Minister said that homelessness is not normal. He is contradicting the chair of the Housing Agency. If he really believes this, he should ask the chair to withdraw his comments. Or are we looking at a game of good cop-bad cop, with the Taoiseach claiming the homelessness figures are low, the responsible Minister of State saying we will be viewed poorly internationally if people keep talking about homelessness and the chair of the Housing Agency saying the figures are normal? There is an attempt to normalise and minimise the homelessness crisis. It is cold, calculating and co-ordinated. The Fine Gael Ministers involved should be ashamed of themselves. However, I do not believe they will fool the people on this issue.

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